Method and system for the distribution of synchronized video to an array of randomly positioned display devices acting as one aggregated display device

ABSTRACT

The disclosure provides a system and method for sharing information amongst user display devices in a peer to peer (P2P) network.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation in part of U.S. Ser. No. 15/676,406filed Aug. 14, 2017, which claims the benefit of U.S. ProvisionalApplications U.S. 62/376,866 filed Aug. 18, 2016 and entitled“Sqramble”, U.S. 62/385,452 filed Sep. 9, 2016 and entitled “SqrambleVideo”, and U.S. 62/442,754 filed Jan. 18, 2017 and entitled “SqrambleVideo Advertising Integration,” the entirety of which are incorporatedby reference.

FIELD

The present invention relates to a system and method for using multipledisplay devices, such as cell phones, smart phones, tablet computers, orother devices with an electronically controllable screen or display, todisplay one image or video across the totality of all of the displaydevices, regardless of where the display devices are positioned or howthey are oriented relative to each other. The invention also provides asystem and method for identifying the exact position and orientation ofeach display device. It further provides a system and method fordisplaying an advertising banner or border overlayed on the image orvideo across the totality of the display devices.

BACKGROUND

As data rates to mobile devices continue to get faster and small camerasattached to cell phones and tablets get better in terms of imagequality, more and more people regularly watch images or videos on theircell phones and tablets. Due to the screen sizes of these devices, itcan be difficult to clearly see the details of the image or video and toshare the experience of watching the video together with other people.Also the limited size of the display screens on the devices makes itdifficult to display an advertising border or banner simultaneously withthe video.

Prior art systems have utilized an array of television sets mountedtogether to display a composite image across the collective screens ofthe television sets. However, proper display of the composite image insuch prior art systems has required an advance specification or priorknowledge of where each television set is located in the array. That is,prior art television arrays for displaying composite images haverequired advance knowledge of where each television screen is positionedin the array and how it is oriented relative to the composite image, inorder to determine what particular portion of the composite image isgoing to be generated on the screen of each television set.

All references cited herein are incorporated herein by reference intheir entireties.

BRIEF SUMMARY

The present invention is directed to a method and system that allow agroup of people to each contribute their individual cell phone or tabletor other similar display device to a composite display, by placing allof the devices together in ad hoc fashion to form a large array ormosaic, and then to watch a video or image that is displayed across theentire array of devices such that the video or image plays insynchronization using the total array as one screen. In contrast toprior art television arrays for displaying composite images, the systemof the present invention enables a composite display or image to begenerated on the fly, without prior specification or knowledge of whichdevice is located where in the device array or how the device isoriented in relation to other devices used to generate the compositedisplay.

Most modern smartphones are used to take portrait-oriented videos,whereas most available computer displays are landscape-oriented. Thisinvention accordingly further allows for the display area created by thecollective display devices to map to the orientation and aspect ratio ofthe source video. The invention then enables user generated videos whichare circular in shape to be used in creating the composite display,including a composite display with an advertising banner or border.

Generally speaking, exemplary embodiments of the present inventionenable users with a smart phone to set all of their phones on a table inan ad hoc array/mosaic where they generally are positioned adjacent toone another, either vertically or horizontally or in a mixture oforientations, and then watch a video from one of the users played usingthe entire array of smart phones as one contiguous display.

For example in one embodiment the user whose video is being playedserves as the controller, cueing up the video to be played andinitiating a display session. The other users log into the session fromtheir respective smartphones and then place all of their phones on thetable to form a large array either rectangular, square, or round inshape. Each smartphone is sent a unique identifying symbol which isdisplayed on its respective smartphone screen. The controller user takesa picture of the array of smartphones and uploads the picture. Theinvention analyzes the unique identifier on each smartphone screen anddetermines the size, relative position, and orientation of eachsmartphone. The invention next maps the source video to the size andshape of the smartphone array so as to maximize the display of thevideo, keeping the original aspect ratio. The invention then sends theappropriate extract of the total source video to each smartphone andsynchronizes the playback of the video such that the video plays overthe totality of the smartphones and is viewable as the original sourcevideo. One user indicates that his/her smartphone will provide audio andthe audio is played through that smartphone. Additional videos can beplayed or replayed through the same session once initiated, until all ofthe users remove their smartphones.

Furthermore, the disclosure provides for a system and method forcapturing information, such as rolling audio, video, or displays, on asmartphone or other handheld device. It is not limited to handhelddevices and will work with any electronic device or computer having acamera. As disclosed herein this works by allowing the, for example,video camera to run while buffering the information stream in a systemof buffers. A user indicates by, for example, touch gesture or voicecommand when to start a clip. The clip is typically preset to a certainnumber of seconds or minutes. The application as disclosed herein canthen receive, for example, metadata concerning the clip and create oneof various types of output files.

The present disclosure uses a reactive method for recording informationthat combines information capture, touch-screen, voice-controltechnologies into an integrated system that produces cleanly edited,short-duration, compliant multimedia files, such as for example, videofiles, that exactly captures a moment after it has actually happened.

The present disclosure places the device in a state that is always readyto capture video up to N seconds or minutes in the past (where N dependson available system memory and can be set by the user). For example, 20seconds, 40 seconds, or 60 seconds. This enables the user to run thesystem indefinitely without having to worry about running out ofstorage.

In certain embodiments the user relies on touch gestures and voicecommands to actually initiate captures without having to actuallymonitor the system itself, thereby allowing for complete focus on thelive action itself. When the user sees something happen, he or she canuse the appropriate voice or touch command to cause the system create arecorded file based on time points derived from the user's commands.

The disclosure provides a system and method for sharing informationamongst user display devices in a peer to peer (P2P) network, the methodcomprising: providing a plurality of user display devices wherein saiduser display devices are mobile or portable and which are capable ofwireless communications; establishing said user display devices as nodesof a wireless P2P network, providing an application on said user displaydevices, wherein said application gives each user of a respective userdisplay device the ability to select information to be shared amongstthe other user display devices in the P2P network; selecting theinformation to be shared over the P2P network by one of the users usinghis/her respective user display device; and wherein said selectedinformation is shared over the P2P network as an informationtransmission using the application, said information comprising amultimedia file selected from the group consisting of voice data, mediafiles, image files, audio files, game images, screen images, a virtualworld, an augmented reality, a game, a videogame, on-screen content,broadcast programming, a mixed reality other rendered environment,metadata, and combinations thereof. The disclosure provides a system andmethod wherein each of said user display devices is selected from thegroup consisting of mobile telephones, smart tablet computers, laptopcomputers, portable gaming devices, portable Internet devices, personaldigital assistant devices, wearable devices, smart watches, smartglasses, headphones, pendants, earpieces, any electronic, computing,and/or telecommunications device capable of wireless communication. Thedisclosure provides a system and method wherein the P2P network is anyone of a structured network, a predefined network, a hybrid P2P network,an ad hoc P2P network, an unstructured network, or a combinationthereof.

The disclosure provides a system and method wherein said information isshared amongst user display devices in the P2P network without use of aserver. The disclosure provides a system and method where any one of theusers can choose any portion of said information being transmitted toreceive and retransmit, without using a server. The disclosure providesa system and method wherein said information is shared amongst certainuser display devices which are separated from each other by multiplehops in the P2P network. The disclosure provides a system and methodwherein the P2P network is formed using a means selected from the groupconsisting of Bluetooth connections, WiFi connections, and combinationsthereof. The disclosure provides a system and method wherein a localnetwork is a P2P ad-hoc network that is dynamically formed between userdisplay devices in said local network. The disclosure provides a systemand method wherein said P2P network is an ad hoc network formed betweenuser display devices, wherein the user display devices cooperativelyroute traffic amongst themselves. The disclosure provides a system andmethod wherein a portion of said user display devices are separated fromeach other by multiple hops in the ad hoc network. The disclosureprovides a system and method wherein said P2P network includes at leastsome user display devices separated from each other by multiple hops inthe network. The disclosure provides a system and method wherein saidapplication is configured for sharing information with said other userdisplay devices in real time with less than 100 ms latency over saidwireless P2P network.

The disclosure provides a system and method wherein said application isconfigured for retransmitting information transmissions received oversaid P2P network from one or more user display devices to additionaluser display devices connected on said P2P network. The disclosureprovides a system and method wherein said application is configured formirroring a first user display device screen, a video camera associatedwith said first user display device, a microphone associated with saidfirst user display device, or any multi-media application associatedwith said first user device to form mirrored content, and sharing saidmirrored content over said P2P network. The disclosure provides a systemand method wherein said application is configured for recording saidmirrored content. The disclosure provides a system and method whereinsaid mirrored content comprises a duration of time selected from thegroup consisting of 20 seconds, 40 seconds, and 60 seconds long. Thedisclosure provides a system and method wherein mirrored content can besaved directly to said first user's display device, or transmitted toother user's display devices over said P2P network without using aserver.

The disclosure provides a system and method said mirrored content can berecorded on said first user's display device based on a user commandselected from the group consisting of the first user tapping a button,the first user user tapping one or more buttons, the first user tappingon an icon on said first user's display device screen, a gesture of thefirst user, shaking said user display device by the first user, anaudible instruction or command issued by the first user, andcombinations thereof. The disclosure provides a system and methodwherein said multimedia file is a videogame or a performance. Thedisclosure provides a system and method wherein said multimedia file isa recording of the performance of test software that is configured foranalysis of said test software performance to record software failure.The disclosure provides a system and method wherein said multimedia fileis distributively generated by a subset of user devices on said P2Pnetwork. The disclosure provides a system and method wherein saidmultimedia file is distributed by a user display device. The disclosureprovides a system and method wherein the multimedia file is requested byother user display devices on said P2P network.

The disclosure provides a system and method wherein said user command isactuated by touching a touch screen portion of said first user's displaydevice. The disclosure provides a system and method wherein said usercommand is actuated by a virtual button on said first user's displaydevice. The disclosure provides a system and method wherein said usercommand is a spoken command into a microphone associated with said firstuser's display device. The disclosure provides a system and methodwherein said user command is a hold and release touch to said touchscreen, wherein said application only begins to save information for apredetermined number of seconds before the first user activates saidvirtual button in said touch screen and said application stops savinginformation when the first user releases said virtual button. Thedisclosure provides a system and method wherein said predeterminednumber of seconds is selected form the group consisting of 20 seconds,40 seconds, and 60 seconds.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be described in conjunction with the followingdrawings in which like reference numerals designate like elements andwherein:

FIG. 1 is an exemplary embodiment of the controller device orsmartphone.

FIG. 2 is an exemplary embodiment of one of the non-controller deviceslogged in to the array.

FIG. 3 is an exemplary embodiment of the array of devices with a uniquegraphical symbol displayed on each device.

FIG. 4 is an exemplary embodiment of a video being played over the wholedevice array. For reference the source image is also shown.

FIG. 5 is an exemplary embodiment of a video with a border for anadvertising logo played over the whole device array. For reference thesource image is also shown.

FIG. 6 is an exemplary embodiment of the process of the controller userand the display users interacting with the application, how an array ofdisplay devices could be arranged, and how the target video would bedisplayed over the array of display devices.

FIG. 7 is an exemplary embodiment of the individual applicationcomponents that perform the various functions and algorithms toimplement the user interface and the feedback loop between the array ofdisplay devices and the application.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following is a description of exemplary embodiments of theinvention, augmented by the included drawings. The embodiments areexamples and are described in such detail as to clearly communicate theinvention. However the amount of detail offered is not intended to limitthe anticipated variations of embodiments; on the contrary, theintention covers all modifications, equivalents, and alternativesfalling within the spirit and scope of the present invention as definedby the appended claims. The descriptions and drawings below are designedto make such embodiments obvious to a person of ordinary skill in theart.

As used herein the term “Processing Element” refers to variousimplementations of digital circuitry that perform a function in acomputer system. Additionally, processing element may refer to variousimplementations of analog or mixed-signal (combination of analog anddigital) circuitry that perform a function (or functions) in a computeror computer system. Processing elements include, for example, circuitssuch as an integrated circuit (IC), ASIC (Application SpecificIntegrated Circuit), portions or circuits of individual processor cores,entire processor cores, individual processors, programmable hardwaredevices such as a field programmable gate array (FPGA), and/or largerportions of systems that include multiple processors.

As used herein the term “Memory Medium” means any of various types ofnon-transitory memory devices or storage devices. The term “memorymedium” is intended to include an installation medium, e.g., a CD-ROM,floppy disks, or tape device; a computer system memory or random accessmemory such as DRAM, DDR RAM, SRAM, EDO RAM, Rambus RAM, etc.; anon-volatile memory such as a Flash, magnetic media, e.g., a hard drive,or optical storage; registers, or other similar types of memoryelements, etc. The memory medium may include other types ofnon-transitory memory as well or combinations thereof. In addition, thememory medium may be located in a first computer system in which theprograms are executed, or may be located in a second different computersystem which connects to the first computer system over a network, suchas the Internet. In the latter instance, the second computer system mayprovide program instructions to the first computer for execution. Theterm “memory medium” may include two or more memory mediums which mayreside in different locations, e.g., in different computer systems thatare connected over a network. The memory medium may store programinstructions (e.g., embodied as computer programs) that may be executedby one or more processors.

As used herein the term “Carrier Medium” means a memory medium asdescribed above, as well as a physical transmission medium, such as abus, network, and/or other physical transmission medium that conveyssignals such as electrical, electromagnetic, or digital signals.

As used herein the term “Computer System” means any of various types ofcomputing or processing systems, including a personal computer system(PC), mainframe computer system, workstation, network appliance,Internet appliance, personal digital assistant (PDA), user displaydevice, television system, grid computing system, or other device orcombinations of devices. In general, the term “computer system” can bebroadly defined to encompass any device (or combination of devices)having at least one processor that executes instructions from a memorymedium.

As used herein the terms, for example, “user device”, “display device”,“user display device”, and “mobile device”, refers, for example, to anyof various types of computer systems and/or devices which are mobile orportable and which performs wireless communications using, for example,WLAN communication. Examples of mobile devices include mobile telephonesor smart phones (e.g., iPhone®, Android®-based phones), and tabletcomputers such as iPad®, Samsung Galaxy®, etc. Various other types ofdevices would fall into this category if they include Wi-Fi or bothcellular and Wi-Fi communication capabilities, such as laptop computers(e.g., MacBook®), portable gaming devices (e.g., Nintendo DS®,PlayStation Portable®, Gameboy Advance®, iPhone®), portable Internetdevices, and other handheld devices, as well as wearable devices such assmart watches, smart glasses, headphones, pendants, earpieces, etc. Theterms “user display device”, “user device”, “display device”, and“mobile telephone” or “mobile terminal,” as used herein, may include,for example, a cellular radiotelephone with or without a multi-linedisplay; a Personal Communications System (PCS) terminal that maycombine a cellular radiotelephone with data processing, facsimile anddata communications capabilities; a PDA that can include aradiotelephone, pager, Internet/intranet access, Web browser, organizer,calendar and/or a global positioning system (GPS) receiver; and aconventional laptop and/or palmtop receiver or other appliance thatincludes a radiotelephone transceiver, and can represent a variety ofsuitably configured devices including cell phones, personal computers,tablets, phablets, kiosks, vehicles, appliances, game consoles, or otherdevices. Mobile terminals may also be referred to as “pervasivecomputing” devices. Examples of computing platforms that can be suitablyadapted for use with the inventive subject matter within the deviceinclude those based on Linux, Mac OS, Microsoft, Solaris, Android,BlackBerry OS, iOS, Embedded Linux, Palm OS, WebOS, Windows Mobile,VxWorks, or other suitable computing platforms that can run objectrecognition engines. In general, the term “user device”, “displaydevice”, and “mobile device” can be broadly defined to encompass anyelectronic, computing, and/or telecommunications device (or combinationof devices) which is easily transported by a user and capable ofwireless communication using, for example, Bluetooth, WLAN or Wi-Fi.

As used herein the term “Wireless Device” or “Wireless Station” meansany of various types of computer systems and/or devices which performwireless communications using WLAN communications. As used herein, theterm “wireless device” may refer to a mobile device, as defined above,or to a stationary device, such as a stationary wireless client or awireless base station. For example, a wireless device may be any type ofwireless station of an 802.11 system, such as an access point (AP) or aclient station (STA or UE). Further examples include televisions, mediaplayers (e.g., AppleTV®, Roku®, Amazon FireTV®, Google Chromecast®,etc.), refrigerators, laundry machines, thermostats, and so forth.

As used herein the term “WLAN” includes a wireless communication networkor RAT that is serviced by WLAN access points and which providesconnectivity through these access points to the Internet. Most modernWLANs are based on IEEE 802.11 standards and are marketed under the name“Wi-Fi”. A WLAN network is different from a cellular network.

As used herein the terms Neighbor Awareness Networking (NAN) data link(NDL) refers to a communication link between peer wireless stations(e.g., peer NAN devices). Note that the peer devices may be in a common(e.g., same) NAN cluster. In addition, a NAN data link may support oneor more NAN datapaths between peer wireless stations. Note further thata NAN data link may only belong to a single NAN data cluster.

As used herein the terms NAN datapath (NDP) refers to a communicationlink between peer wireless stations that supports a service. Note thatone or more NAN datapaths may be supported by a NAN data link.Additionally, note that a NAN datapath supports a service betweenwireless stations. Typically, one of the peer wireless stations will bea publisher of the service and the other peer wireless station will be asubscriber to the service.

In certain embodiments, the user display device, controller device,display device, user device, and/or other electronic device, such as acellular phone or personal digital assistant (PDA) can communicate usinga cellular Wireless Wide Area Network (WWAN) such as Code DivisionMultiple Access (CDMA), GSM, UMTS, HSPA, EVDO, etc.; a Wireless PersonalArea Network (WPAN) such as Bluetooth, Ultra Wide Band (UWB), wirelessUSB (wUSB), etc.; a short range Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) suchas WiFi, etc.; a Wireless Metropolitan Area Network (WMAN) such asWiMAX, as well as other wireless technologies, e.g., Global PositioningSatellite (GPS), Near Field Communication (NFC), Digital Video Broadcast(DVB), etc.

In certain embodiments as disclosed herein, the application can resideon a plurality of, for example, user display devices, and informationsuch as video information can be shared amongst display devices withoutthe use of any kind of a network or server, such as over a peer to peernetwork. In a multiuser environment, each user can choose amongavailable transmissions to receiving and retransmission, without thenecessity of using a network or server.

In certain embodiments as disclosed herein, the application will allowfor sharing of multimedia files, such as e.g., video and/or audioinformation, from user devices, such as a user display device to otheruser display devices using a wireless capacity, for example in acascade, without the need to use a network or server.

In certain embodiments as disclosed herein, the information is amultimedia file selected from the group consisting of, for example,voice data, media files, image files, audio files, game images, screenimages, a virtual world, an augmented reality, a game, a videogame,on-screen content, broadcast programming, a mixed reality or otherrendered environment, or metadata.

In certain embodiments as disclosed herein, the application allows forthe capability to mirror one user display device screen and audio tomultiple other user display devices in real time with less than, forexample, a 100 ms latency, including the mirroring of, for example, avideo camera.

Another aspect is directed to a method including connecting to a localpeer-to-peer network; receiving an information file over thepeer-to-peer network; and exchanging payment or license information forthe information file over a wide area network.

Additionally, receiving the information file over the peer-to-peernetwork may further include determining whether the information file isavailable on the peer-to-peer network; receiving the information fileover the peer-to-peer network when the information file is determined tobe available on the peer-to-peer network; and receiving the informationfile over the wide area network when the information file is notavailable on the peer-to-peer network.

Additionally, the local peer-to-peer network is a network of mobileterminals and receiving the information file over the peer-to-peernetwork further includes receiving the information file at a firstmobile terminal from a second mobile terminal, the second mobileterminal being separated from the first mobile terminal by at least twohops in the peer-to-peer network.

Additionally, the local peer-to-peer network may be formed via Bluetoothconnections and the wide area network may be formed as a cellulartelephone network.

Additionally, the information file may be a multi-media file.

Additionally, the local peer-to-peer network may be a higher bandwidthnetwork than the wide area network.

In another aspect, a method includes dynamically forming a local networkof mobile terminals; exchanging files over the local network when thefiles are available in the local network; receiving the files from acellular network when the files are not available on the local network;and exchanging payment or license information for the files over thecellular network when the files are exchanged over the local network.

Additionally, the method further includes exchanging payment or licenseinformation for the files over the cellular network when the files arereceived over the cellular network.

Additionally, the local network may be a peer-to-peer ad-hoc networkthat is dynamically formed between mobile terminals in the cellularnetwork. Additionally, the ad-hoc network includes at least some mobileterminals separated from each other by multiple hops in the ad-hocnetwork. Additionally, the local network may be formed via Bluetoothconnections. Additionally, the files may be multi-media files. The localnetwork may be a higher bandwidth network than the cellular network.

Various mobile terminals such as user display devices may move in andout of proximity of one another as the user carrying the user displaydevice moves about. In certain embodiments, a user display deviceincludes Bluetooth connectivity. Bluetooth is a radio standard primarilydesigned for low power consumption and tends to have a relatively shortrange of approximately 1 meter, 10 meters, or 100 meters, depending onthe Bluetooth power class of the mobile terminal.

Users of mobile terminals such as user display devices may dynamicallyconnect with one another to form local networks as the users move intorange of one another. In one implementation, the local networks may beformed as ad-hoc peer-to-peer networks. Ad hoc networks are generallyknown in the art. In an ad-hoc network of mobile terminals, the mobileterminals cooperatively route traffic amongst themselves. Ad-hocnetworks are usually wireless networks. Nodes (i.e., mobile terminalssuch as user display devices) in these networks may not be permanent:they are instead based on physical proximity at any given point in time.The network adjusts dynamically to changing node structure, which mayresult from node mobility or failure.

In an ad-hoc network, some or all of the mobile terminals such as userdisplay devices in the ad-hoc network may be capable of network routingfunctions and others may be merely sources or destinations for datatraffic. All or some of the mobile terminals such as user displaydevices in the ad-hoc network may execute a set of algorithms, andperform a set of networking protocols, that enable the mobile terminalsto find each other, determine paths through the network for data trafficfrom source to destination(s), and detect and repair ruptures in thead-hoc network, for example, as nodes move, as they fail, as batterypower changes, or as communication path characteristics change overtime.

The local peer-to-peer networks formed by groups of mobile terminalssuch as user display devices may be used to transfer files (or any otherunit of data), such as media files, image files, or other informationbetween mobile terminals in a local network.

The formation of local networks and use of the local networks asdescribed above can be useful in numerous situations. Consider, forexample, a user that has a mobile terminal that has the capability tostore and play songs. The user may wish to download a new song to themobile terminal. If the user is in a crowded area and the song is afairly popular song, there is a good chance that there is a user eitherwithin direct range of a local connection of the user (e.g., withinapproximately 100 meters for a Bluetooth class 1 device) or within“indirect” range of the local connection. Indirect range, as usedherein, refers to another user that is accessible via multiple hops onthe local network (e.g., mobile terminals 320-B and 320-D in FIG. 3). Ineither case, the user may then download the song over the local networkand exchange payment/licensing information, if necessary, over thecellular network.

As an alternate situation to the one discussed in the previousparagraph, consider the situation in which the mobile terminals are“strangers” or are otherwise not allocated to predetermined groups. Inthis situation, which was generally described above with reference tothe ad-hoc networks, the mobile terminals may connect with one anotherby broadcasting their presence, and potentially the information desired,using their short range transceiver (e.g., Bluetooth or WiFitransceiver). A nearby mobile terminal may then choose whether torespond and supply the desired data and/or connect to the local network.Another way of connecting for mobile terminals that are not allocated topredetermined groups is for the cellular network to broadcast thelocation of a first mobile terminal to other mobile terminals in thevicinity of the first mobile terminal. The other mobile terminals maythen elect whether to join the local network by connecting with thefirst mobile terminal using the short range transceiver.

In certain embodiments as disclosed herein, the application as theability to record a rolling window of information such as video, forexample 20, 40, or 60 seconds long, of whatever is on the screen of theusers display device. This captured information can be saved directly tothe display device, or transmitted to additional display devices of oneor more users without the necessity for a network or server. In certainembodiments as disclosed herein, information, such as a rolling videoand/or audio would be recorded based on a tap on the button, tap on anicon on the display device screen, or some other kind of gesture forexample shaking the phone. This can be used in scenarios, for example toshare a recording performance and videogame, to using software testingto capture the time when example an application does not performcorrectly in user's record what happened leading to failure.

The present disclosure provides a system and method, such as anapplication for using a rolling buffer set including a main buffer and apre-roll buffer to provide unlimited operation against a finite amountof memory. On startup, both the main and pre-roll buffers are allocatedin storage, typically disk storage or its equivalent, and left in awrite-ready state. The system interacts with the user device screen tostore the video stream of the screen into the main buffer first. As themain buffer approaches capacity, the system switches to the pre-rollbuffer without dropping video frames, or other information. The pre-rollbuffer is designed to hold only a few seconds of video, just enough timefor the main buffer to be closed and re-opened for writing (i.e.purged), for example, 20 seconds, 40 seconds, or 60 seconds. If thereare any pieces of the main buffer that need to be preserved based on arequested clipping action, those pieces are excised and preserved beforethe purge operation. When the main buffer is empty and ready, the systemredirects the video stream back to the main buffer again without losinga frame thereby allowing the pre-roll to be flushed and be made readyagain.

Because the rolling buffer is not flushed until the next time the mainbuffer reaches capacity, if a user triggers a capture at the start ofthe main buffer and it has to reach back into the rolling buffer, itcan. The screen shot captures are generally small enough that they canbe stitched back together very quickly before adding the resulting videoclip to the library. It is important that pieces of buffers are keptuntil it is certain they are not needed as part of a capture before theyare flushed and lost forever. This is done with reference counting thatwhich is taking place at all times to ensure that any piece of bufferedvideo that might be needed for a future capture is saved off prior toflushing.

In parallel, on-board processors are “listening” or “watching” forcommand input that will be used to establish the start and end pointsneeded to reconstruct a separate clip from the main (and possiblypre-roll buffer).

Rather than store the entire streamed session, the present inventionuses a reactive method for recording information, such as, video thatcombines video capture, remote-control, gesture-recognition andvoice-control technologies into an integrated system that producecleanly edited, short-duration, compliant video files that exactlycaptures a moment after it has actually happened.

The approach puts the user display device in a ready state that isalways ready to capture information up to N minutes in the past(depending on available system memory). This enables the user to streamand acquire information from the user device screen indefinitely withouthaving to worry about running out of storage.

In certain embodiments, the user relies on, for example, gesturesrecognized by the user display device and voice commands to actuallyinitiate capture of a moment, or a button on the user device. When theuser senses something is about to happen (or even after the moment hashappened), they can use the appropriate, for example, voice or touchcommand to have the system create an information media file based ontime points derived from the user's commands: Event Command (viagesture, voice or remote control): create a video file going back Nseconds (user configurable) Continuing Event Command (via gesture, voiceor remote control): create a file going back N seconds and ending whenthe user releases the hold gesture Voice Command: attach meta-data tagto video clip for automated classification

The resulting information is automatically trimmed, tagged withmeta-data (time, location and user-defined tags) and immediatelyavailable for consumption (e.g. playback, social sharing).

The present disclosure provides for using a physically-backed bufferapproach because the uncompressed information streams usually requiretoo much memory to cover any significant amount of time, especially on amobile device where battery life, cost and memory are at a premium.

Both the touch-screen and microphone are listening in parallel for inputthat will establish the start and end points needed to reconstruct aseparate clip from the main buffer and possibly pre-roll buffer.

Whether properly viewed as devices, methods, or systems, the disclosedinvention also permits a machine-accessible medium containinginstructions, which when executed by a machine, cause the machine toperform operations for realizing the disclosed functionality of theinvention. The invention disclosed herein is realized through use ofappropriate equipment and enabling logic optionally reduced to codeand/or hardware, which operate to control an ad hoc array of smartphones, cell phones, tablet computers, and other devices that in theaggregate display a collective video on a digital display.

This invention provides a system that allows electronic devices eachcapable of displaying an image or video to be arranged in an ad hocarray or mosaic and then to generate a single collective image or video(called the “target” image) in such a manner that each device displaysthe part of the target image or video corresponding to its relativeposition and size in the array or mosaic aggregate. The method ofchopping the target image into pieces, one for each display device, isdone so as to maximize the area of display of the target image whiletaking into account the aspect ratio of the target image, the aspectratio of the array of display devices, borders along the edges of eachdevice, and presenting the target image or video in as accurate arepresentation as possible.

Display devices do not need to register their position in the array ormosaic. Instead, the system of the present invention uses imageprocessing and pattern recognition methods known to those of skill inthe art to identify the position and orientation of each device(landscape, landscape inverted, portrait, portrait inverted) and sendthe appropriate crop from the target image or video to that device.

In order to initiate a session utilizing the present invention, a groupof users place their display devices, e.g., smartphones, in an ad hocarray or mosaic on a surface, e.g., a table top. The order andorientation of the devices is completely arbitrary, and positioning ofthe devices within the resulting array or mosaic is random.Subsequently, a de facto feedback loop is established to assign to eachdisplay device a portion of the image or video to be played backcollectively over the array of display devices. This feedback loop isbased on assigning a unique visual identifier to each display deviceafter the array has been assembled, capturing a visual “map” of thoseidentifiers and analyzing the visual “map” to ascertain the relativelocation of each display device in the array, breaking down the targetimage or video to be displayed into portions correlating to the visual“map” of the identified display devices, and mapping back each portionof the image or video to be displayed to the corresponding displaydevice.

A more specific illustration of the process and method of the presentinvention, including the feedback loop operation, will now be presented.First, each user logs on to a display session. A display session is aninstance of the application wherein all users seek to access the sameimage or video, referred to herein as the target video, for display. Theapplication, consisting of software code and instructions, resides on acomputer which has the ability to communicate with each user's displaydevice, commonly referred to as a server, and locally on each users'smartphone or display device as a browser application or an organicapplication that the user has loaded onto that device. Suitable programsand methods for communicating between the server and the browsers on theindividual users' smartphones will be known to those of ordinary skillin the art. In certain embodiments, the application, consisting ofsoftware code and instructions, resides on a controller device, adisplay device, or combinations thereof. The first user to log ininstantiates the session using the controller application, choosing thevideo to be displayed and, in one embodiment of the invention, assigninga pin code to that session, as illustrated by FIG. 1 and by process 10in FIG. 6. Each subsequent user logs into the session by entering thatpin code, as illustrated by process 20, and is sent a unique identifyingpattern from the server via the network connecting the server to theuser's display device, for display on its screen. After all users havelogged into the session, they place their phones or devices on a flatsurface, e.g. a table top. Each device, with its display of its uniqueidentifying pattern, is now visible from above. In one exemplaryembodiment, this identifier is a barcode that fills most of the screenof the smartphone. When all users' devices have logged in and arepositioned to form the array, as shown in FIG. 3, the controller useshis/her smartphone camera to take a picture of the array of the otherdisplay devices and uploads that image via the controller application.The controller application is operated by the first user on hissmartphone. It remains separate from the array of display devices and ispositioned above the array of display devices. As shown in FIG. 1, thisapplication includes selecting the project, which correlates to onetarget image, setting up the pin code, instantiating the session, andthen taking a picture of the array of display devices, each displayingits unique graphical code. The “choose file” button cues up the phone'scamera. The user positions his phone above the array of display devicesso that they are all visible in the camera viewfinder. When the userclicks the camera switch, a photo is taken and uploaded to the serverfor processing.

The present invention then uses image processing techniques, of the typewhich anyone versed in the art would be aware of, and analyzes the imageuploaded by the controller. It identifies each of the unique patterns inthe image, uses edge detection to determine the (x,y) coordinates foreach corner of each unique pattern, and deduces and calculates theposition and orientation of each individual device from its pattern. Thesystem further has information about the make, model, and screenresolution of each display device, which was communicated to the serverwhen the display devices logged in to the session. Based on the imageanalysis and information about the display device screens, the targetimage or video is mapped to the array of display devices such as tooptimize and maximize the display of the target image or video.Employing techniques known to those of ordinary skill in the art, thecenter of the target image and the center of the device array are firstcalculated, then the aspect ratios of the target image or video and thedevice array are compared, yielding a scaling factor, rotational factor,and a translation factor. Further the borders surrounding each deviceare taken into account. These factors are applied to the target image orvideo to divide or break the target video into sub-images or sub-videos.This process is a mathematical calculation that would be known by anyoneof ordinary skill in the art. For example, matrix mathematics can beemployed, where the coordinates of the corners of the screen of eachdisplay device are contained in a matrix and the scaling and translationfactors are contained in other matrices and they are multipliedtogether. Each sub-image or sub-video corresponds exactly to what onedisplay device in the array will display. One sub-image or sub-video issent to each device in the array, which the device displays on itsscreen. The controller device communicates with the server to initiatethe server to command all of the other display devices logged into thesession to commence playing the target video. Playback is buffered andstreamed to account for varying data rates that different displaydevices in the array may have, such that all devices' videos aresynchronized in time as if the whole device array were one bigcontiguous screen, as shown in FIG. 4.

As illustrated in FIG. 7, the session manager 100 controls the functionsof all of the other components of the system. The session managerresides on the server and uses commonly-known techniques to control thesession. In one exemplary embodiment, internet/web protocols includingjava, MSSL, http, https, html5, and Ajax are employed to manage thesession and coordinate the flow of information between the server andthe various users' devices. The controller user's device is representedby 110 and the other users' display devices are represented by 120. Acommunication layer 150 accomplishes the sending and receiving ofinformation and signals from the controller device 110 and the displaydevices 120 using, in alternative embodiments, Html 5 and Ajax in abrowser session, or a local application on each device (commonly calledan “app”). A user interface configurator 130 creates the physicallayout, i.e., what a user sees collectively presented on the displays ofthe devices in the array, from software code and algorithms thatgenerate the layout and change the layout based on where the applicationis in its overall sequence of processes. The information presented oneach display device at any time is managed via programs and algorithmsthat would be known to those of ordinary skill in the art. A videodissection/processor 140 comprising a set of programs and algorithmsincorporates a graphical symbol analyzer 160 that takes the imageuploaded by the controller user and extracts the symbol identifier andvalues and coordinates of each display device in the array, utilizingimage processing techniques including edge detection and symbol decodingas disclosed above to calculate an (x,y) coordinate for each corner ofthe screen in each display device, in a manner that would be known bythose of ordinary skill in the art. The coordinates for each displaydevice screen are then mapped to the target video by a display devicemapping processor 170, which creates a set of (x,y) coordinates for thecorners of each specific sub-video that will be sent to each specificdisplay device. This calculation uses the center of the image of thearray devices, the center of the target image, and the aspect ratios ofthe target image and the array to maximize the display of the video onthe array of display devices. Applying video processing routines andtechniques that would be known to anyone of ordinary skill in the art,each sub-image is created and stored on the server. The session managerthen sends the appropriate sub-video to each display device, where it isdisplayed on the device's screen. Using web streaming and bufferingalgorithms and protocols which would be known to those of ordinary skillin the art, when the controller user presses the “play” button on hisdevice, all display devices commence to play their respective sub-videosat the same time so that all sub-videos are played in synchronization intime and the array appears to be one large contiguous display screenplaying the target video.

In one exemplary embodiment of the invention, the distribution andpresentation of sub-videos on the respective display devices isaccomplished by creating a web socket for each device. A clientapplication, consisting of executable code and algorithms, is eitherloaded onto each display device via a browser session or pre-loaded viaa downloadable application (commonly known as an app). The creation ofsuch a web socket and the client code would be familiar to those ofordinary skill in the art. The system uses http requests to cache BLOB(“Binary Large Object Files”) on each device until they are fullybuffered on the device. Using a looping structure in the serverapplication software, when the control user presses the “play” button, aloop sequentially sends out a message to command each client applicationto begin playing its sub-video. Because the time to loop through alldevices takes microseconds (millionths of a second), each display devicebegins playing within one-tenth of a second of the others. Because ofthe buffering of the video on the client applications, the videocontinues to play continuously and in synchronization in spite of anylatency in communicating with any display device. This implementation ofbuffering would be very familiar to anyone of ordinary skill in the art.

Due to the large size of the effective display created by the array ofdevices, ample room exists to display a banner or border around thevideo during playback. The process of modifying the video, before it iscut into constituent pieces or sub-videos and sent to the array ofdisplay devices to incorporate such a border or banner, would be veryfamiliar to anyone who is versed in the art. As the video plays back,the viewers can see the banner or border sponsorship or advertisingcontent. FIG. 5 shows this process.

The present invention also has functions for session management, addingand managing images and videos, and accessing device information.

Generally the present invention uses an application server, consistingof a computer, an operating system, a network communication protocol,and specially written computer programs and executable files, to sendimages or videos. An intelligent engine (a computer program) running onthe application server interprets inbound images, calculates the mostoptimal way to map the target image or video to the array of displaydevices, separates the target image or video into the constituent piecesfor each display device logged in, and sends the appropriate piece toeach display device.

While the foregoing and accompanying drawings are directed to exampleembodiments of the disclosed invention herein, other and furtherembodiments of the invention may be devised without departing from thebasic scope thereof.

Although a preferred embodiment of the invention (currently marketed asthe “Sqramble” system available at www.sqramble.com) has been describedherein, it is recognized that modifications and variations will occur tothose skilled in the art which fall within the spirit of the inventionand intended scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for sharing information amongst userdisplay devices in a peer to peer (P2P) network, the method comprising:providing a plurality of user display devices wherein said user displaydevices are mobile or portable and which are capable of wirelesscommunications; establishing said user display devices as nodes of awireless P2P network, providing an application on said user displaydevices, wherein said application gives each user of a respective userdisplay device the ability to select information to be shared amongstthe other user display devices in the P2P network; selecting theinformation to be shared over the P2P network by one of the users usinghis/her respective user display device; and wherein said selectedinformation is shared over the P2P network as an informationtransmission using the application, said information comprising amultimedia file selected from the group consisting of voice data, mediafiles, image files, audio files, game images, screen images, a virtualworld, an augmented reality, a game, a videogame, on-screen content,broadcast programming, a mixed reality other rendered environment,metadata, and combinations thereof.
 2. The method of claim 1 whereineach of said user display devices is selected from the group consistingof mobile telephones, smart tablet computers, laptop computers, portablegaming devices, portable Internet devices, personal digital assistantdevices, wearable devices, smart watches, smart glasses, headphones,pendants, earpieces, any electronic, computing, and/ortelecommunications device capable of wireless communication.
 3. Themethod of claim 1 wherein the P2P network is any one of a structurednetwork, a predefined network, a hybrid P2P network, an ad hoc P2Pnetwork, an unstructured network, or a combination thereof.
 4. Themethod of claim 1 wherein said information is shared amongst userdisplay devices in the P2P network without use of a server.
 5. Themethod of claim 1 where any one of the users can choose any portion ofsaid information being transmitted to receive and retransmit, withoutusing a server.
 6. The method of claim 1 wherein said information isshared amongst certain user display devices which are separated fromeach other by multiple hops in the P2P network.
 7. The method of claim 1wherein the P2P network is formed using a means selected from the groupconsisting of Bluetooth connections, WiFi connections, and combinationsthereof.
 8. The method of claim 1 wherein a local network is a P2Pad-hoc network that is dynamically formed between user display devicesin said local network.
 9. The method of claim 1 wherein said P2P networkis an ad hoc network formed between user display devices, wherein theuser display devices cooperatively route traffic amongst themselves. 10.The method of claim 1 wherein a portion of said user display devices areseparated from each other by multiple hops in the ad hoc network. 11.The method of claim 1 wherein said P2P network includes at least someuser display devices separated from each other by multiple hops in thenetwork.
 12. The method of claim 1 wherein said application isconfigured for sharing information with said other user display devicesin real time with less than 100 ms latency over said wireless P2Pnetwork.
 13. The method of claim 1 wherein said application isconfigured for retransmitting information transmissions received oversaid P2P network from one or more user display devices to additionaluser display devices connected on said P2P network.
 14. The method ofclaim 1 wherein said application is configured for mirroring a firstuser display device screen, a video camera associated with said firstuser display device, a microphone associated with said first userdisplay device, or any multi-media application associated with saidfirst user device to form mirrored content, and sharing said mirroredcontent over said P2P network.
 15. The method of claim 14 wherein saidapplication is configured for recording said mirrored content.
 16. Themethod of claim 15 wherein said mirrored content comprises a duration oftime selected from the group consisting of 20 seconds, 40 seconds, and60 seconds long.
 17. The method of claim 15 wherein mirrored content canbe saved directly to said first user's display device, or transmitted toother user's display devices over said P2P network without using aserver.
 18. The method of claim 15 said mirrored content can be recordedon said first user's display device based on a user command selectedfrom the group consisting of the first user tapping a button, the firstuser user tapping one or more buttons, the first user tapping on an iconon said first user's display device screen, a gesture of the first user,shaking said user display device by the first user, an audibleinstruction or command issued by the first user, and combinationsthereof.
 19. The method of claim 1 wherein said multimedia file is avideogame or a performance.
 20. The method of claim 1 wherein saidmultimedia file is a recording of the performance of test software thatis configured for analysis of said test software performance to recordsoftware failure.
 21. The method of claim 1 wherein said multimedia fileis distributively generated by a subset of user devices on said P2Pnetwork.
 22. The method of claim 1 wherein said multimedia file isdistributed by a user display device.
 23. The method of claim 1 whereinthe multimedia file is requested by other user display devices on saidP2P network.
 24. The method of claim 18 wherein said user command isactuated by touching a touch screen portion of said first user's displaydevice.
 25. The method of claim 18 wherein said user command is actuatedby a virtual button on said first user's display device.
 26. The methodof claim 18 wherein said user command is a spoken command into amicrophone associated with said first user's display device.
 27. Themethod of claim 18 wherein said user command is a hold and release touchto said touch screen, wherein said application only begins to saveinformation for a predetermined number of seconds before the first useractivates said virtual button in said touch screen and said applicationstops saving information when the first user releases said virtualbutton.
 28. The method of claim 27 wherein said predetermined number ofseconds is selected form the group consisting of 20 seconds, 40 seconds,and 60 seconds.